Newport, RI.
Holy moly.
We had the absolute best year in Newport, Rhode Island (2018-2019). Being from Florida, I was not sure what to expect of New England in general, but man — I was impressed. From the people to the coastline, lighthouses, and small town vibe, we loved Newport. In fact, we loved it enough to consider buying a forever home there. Like, seriously. And we’re still looking. So don’t get any ideas and steal our dreamhouse. Okay? Thanks.
What a place to visit. What a place to raise a family. What a place to go to school (hello, St. George’s . . .). What a place to spend all four seasons. Picnics on the beach, nature hikes along the coast, ferry trips to Block Island, strolls along the Cliff Walk, tours of those famous Newport mansions, and so much more.
So add this one to your bucket list. You won’t regret it.
Family-Friendly Things to Do in Newport, RI
1.Take in the beaches. Our faves? Sachuest (referred to by locals as “Second”), Third, Fort Adams, and Gooseberry. From July-September, the water is warm and beautiful. The other nine months out of the year? Well, the water is beautiful . . . and cold. Brrrr. The coastline, however, is stunning year-round.
Endless hours of fun on Newport (and Middletown)’s excellent beaches
Sachuest Beach is the longest stretch of sand in Rhode island and is home to the famed Surfer's End - which, as you can guess, is the best spot on the island for surfing. It backs up to Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge, which offers 2.5 miles of nature trails, and it’s flanked by the Norman Bird Sanctuary, a 300-acre bird sanctuary and nature preserve.
If you are looking for a calmer, protected swimming hole, head to Third Beach (Middletown), Fort Adams Beach (Newport), or Gooseberry Beach (Newport).
Pro tip: Second, Third, and Gooseberry Beach have lifeguards on duty from 9-5 during the season. Second and Gooseberry offer concession stands. All beaches have parking lots, but parking will cost you between $15-30/day, depending on which day you visit. Parking at Fort Adams Beach is free (score)!
2. Explore the protected areas and nature reserves. Do not miss Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge or Norman Bird Sanctuary (both mentioned above). Trust me on this. Views, coastline, rockpools, sea glass-searching, snowy owls, lighthouses, birds, whales, overlooks. You get the point. If you have extra time, hop across the Pell Bridge to Jamestown and spend an afternoon at Beavertail State Park. It has a lighthouse that is home to a museum, as well as a small aquarium (free entry) that features sea life from Narragansett Bay.
Sea glass hunting at Sachuest Point. So.much.fun.
3. “Let’s Go Fly a Kite” at Brenton State Park. Take a scenic drive past luxurious mansions and beautiful coastline on Ocean Drive until you come to Brenton Point State Park. You can picnic, fish, or hike around the area - but what kids will love most is sending their kites soaring up in the air in this very popular kite-flying destination (after all, it is home to the annual Newport Kite Festival). Pro tip: Stop by the Del's lemonade truck (located in the parking lot during the season) for a frozen lemon or watermelon (or mixed!) treat on a hot day. Your kids will love you for it! Also, you can find Del’s trucks on most beaches on the island, so if you miss it at Brenton . . . you’re not quite SOL.
4. Learn some history at Fort Adams State Park. Fort Adams is the coolest. Kids and history buffs alike will love it. The fort offers family-friendly one-hour guided tours daily between May and October. You will see the quarters where officers and their families lived, climb the scenic overlook for a fantastic view of Newport Harbor, explore the very dark underground listening tunnels (super fun for kids), and pretend to load and fire off a cannon. Pro tip: Ticket prices are reasonable with children under six entering for free.
5. Learn to sail - after all, you're in Newport! If you don't come to Newport and sail, then have you ever really been to Newport at all? Located within Fort Adams State Park is Sail Newport, a non-profit community sailing facility that offers sailboat and windsurfing instructions and rentals for the public. There is instruction for adults and youth - everything from beginner to advanced. If you are planning to be in Newport for a week or two during the summer, put those kiddos in sailing camp. Talk about making some great memories!
Hanging out paddle board-side at Fort Adams Beach
6. Aquarium, Carousel, and Beach - oh my! Hit up Easton's Beach (Middletown) for a whole day of fun day at Save the Bay Exploration Center, Easton's Beach Carousel, and, you know, the beach. Save the Bay is an interactive marine science center with lobsters, crabs, seahorses, skates, sea urchins, bioluminescent comb jellies, dogfish sharks, and more. Although small, the center has three touch tanks that allow you to get up close and personal with many of these species (ok, not the jellies)! Pro Tip: Entry is reasonably priced. Ask for a re-entry stamp to enjoy the center multiple times throughout the day.
When you're finished exploring sea creatures, head on upstairs to the open air Easton's Beach Carousel. Adjacent the carousel is Easton's Beach Snack Bar, serving local delights such as lobster rolls, clam strips, and crab cakes.
And then there is the actual beach itself, Easton's Beach (known as "First Beach" to the locals), which offers rolling waves that are great for surfing or boogie boarding.
7. Make your way to the Cliff Walk. Have we not talked about the Cliff Walk yet? Oh my. The end of Easton's Beach closest to Newport Town marks the beginning of the world famous Cliff Walk. The walk is a (free) public access walk that combines the beauty of Newport's shoreline with its dramatic architecture (think: mansions)! The walk is 3.5 miles long and is a combination of paved, easy to navigate paths and unpaved rocky areas that are more difficult to traverse (near its ending point). When taking children, be cautious throughout the trail - in some spots, the cliffs have drops of over 70 feet. So worth it for the view, and the exercise!
8. Stroll around Newport Town. The cutest little New England town that ever was. Eat some delicious seafood, shop the boutiques, and take a lobster, lighthouse, or harbor tour from Bowen's Wharf. Our fave restaurants include The Mooring, Benjamin’s (try the lobster mac and cheese) and the Brick Alley Pub and Restaurant, to name a few. Sign your crew up for a 90-minute lobster tour (we recommend Fish'n Tales Adventure Lobster Tours); hop aboard a lighthouse tour; sail away on a harbor cruise (try Gansett Cruises); and indulge in some local sweet treats (Liberty Donuts and The Newport Sweet Shoppe are local favorites). The kids will also love you forever if you take them to Ryan’s Family Amusements. Seriously, just do it.
Hanging out at Bowen’s Wharf in Newport, RI
9. Tour the mansions. Because really, you gotta. Look, they are all unique and gorgeous, but our favorite? The Breakers. The kids probably won’t suffer more than one, so this is the one we most highly recommend. They have an excellent kids audio tour, and the Vanderbilt family history is super-interesting. And if you happen to be in Newport at or around Christmas, wow. The mansions are all decked out and simply gorgeous at Christmas-time.
10. Catch a Newport Gulls Baseball Game. For all the sports lovers out there, check out the Newport Gulls (summer collegiate baseball team) schedule and get yourself a front row ticket to one of the locals' favorite family-friendly outings in the area. Tickets cost a whopping $5 for adults, $2 for children ages 13-18 and $1 for children 12 and under.
Last, but certainly not least, be on the lookout for all of the unique, wonderful festivals from jazz to oysters, seafood, kite-flying, and boat shows, that Newport hosts throughout the year. If you're lucky enough, you just might hit one during your trip. Check out discovernewport.org and visitrhodeisland.com for more information.
And if you are headed to Newport, hit me up. After a year of wonderful time there, I have so many more local suggestions that I’d love to send your way to help you get the most out of your experience.
